2024 Audi Q8 e-tron 55 quattro review

The new Q8 e-tron enters the Australian market in the 55 quattro guise, in either the base trim, an S-line trim and either in a wagon or sportback body.

It is priced from $153,900 before on-road costs for the base 55 quattro model and up to $165,900 before on-roads for the Sportback 55 quattro.

To go with the name change is a fresh new look, a reworked drivetrain with enhanced dynamics and a larger battery pack offering more driving range.

All models now come with a hefty 114kWh battery and sport a powerful 300kW/664Nm dual motor format.

This equates to acceleration from 0-100km/hr in 6.5 seconds (5.6 seconds with boost mode), while WLTP range now sits at 454km.

A simplified 2D white logo sits up front; those who are quick can get their hands on the launch edition which features a smart black logo instead.

Refreshed styling includes a more aggressive air intake to help to divert air flow around the car, increasing aerodynamics from 0.26 to 0.24 for the Q8 Sportback e-tron and from 0.28 to 0.27 for the Q8 e-tron.

Optional virtual digital side mirrors also improve aerodynamics – reducing the drag coefficient by a not insignificant 0.1 to add extra range.

In full daylight the camera quality is a little murky – although it may prove that in poorer lighting conditions the display is better than a traditional mirror.

Getting into the e-tron there is plenty of comfort and leg room both front and back.

The default seating position is quite low but electronic controls lift the seating position for better visibility.

Quilted seats in the launch edition give a luxury feel while contrast stitching of the sports Valcona leather seats suit the Sportback to a tee.

Drive mode selectors still sit way over on the far left of the console, making adjusting from sports to eco something one wouldn’t want to do too often.

The paddles behind the steering wheels to adjust regenerative braking, however, make switching up and down from light resistance (great for the highway) to heavy (great for traffic situations) an easy transition.

Build quality and fit and finish are both as you would expect from Audi – there’s a reason the e-tron is the most popular electric luxury vehicle worldwide, with 150,000 sales under its belt so far.

In terms of tech, the digital interfaces and knobs and dials make a satisfying combination of futurism and familiarity.

However, voice control was impenetrable in the brief time we had to try it out, indicating there is a learning curve which surely could be approached in a more intuitive way.

A Bang & Olufsen 3D sounds system is a $1,750 option that will likely see music buffs reaching into the pocket

This is a beast with plenty of oomph for going up hills – an extra push of the foot on the accelerator pumps extra electrons to the motor, boosting it up the hill.

That said this is a heavy car that you feel in the way it handles on the road – it handles well around roundabouts and has a nimble touch on the steering but doesn’t hide its weighty presence in its responsiveness.

Noise and vibration while driving were almost non-existent – the smoothness of the ride was a testament to the adaptive air suspension while the cabin noise was barely there thanks to insulating materials in the wheel arches and firewall.

Oddly, there was a bit of rollback on hill starts – a little out of character for an electric vehicle.

In terms of EV-only specs, Audi says it has chosen to offer only 7kW AC charging despite the big 114kWh battery because 88% of the market only has access to single-phase charging at home.

This means 14 hours plugged in to charge from 10-100% and would see most owners wanting to top up a few times a week.

It does offer three-phase 22kW AC charging – reducing that charge time to under 5 hours - for an additional $6900.

Good to note also is that there is an AC charge point on both sides of the vehicle making garage installations and parking preferences easier, and the 22kW pack delivers to both these points also.

All vehicles come with three – yes, three – cables as standard, as well as free installation (maximum 20m cable run.)

This is the first all-electric Audi to be homologated under the WLTP standard. What this means is that while the new 454km driving range (up from 417km) at first appearance is marginally more than the first generation e-tron, it is far a more realistic figure.

Additionally, the WLTP numbers are based on 22” alloys (not an option with the 55 quattro model) so expect an even better range with the 20” or 21” options and in city conditions.

As an electric vehicle, this is a thoughtful effort from Audi, which has committed to stop selling its last fossil fuel vehicles from 2033.

However, at its heart this is a power hungry vehicle – weighing in at good 2.5 tonnes, it uses 24-25kWh/100km on the highway.

In our drive ascending the Macedon Ranges it used 34kWh/100km.

That said, Audi has already announced the next generation will be on the PPE platform which promises 800-volt architecture meaning less wiring, smaller hardware which it could use to reduce weight and increase efficiency.

Word is though the extra space will be used for more battery cells and more range.